HOW TO HIRE · TRADES & CONSTRUCTION

How to hire a plasterer in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No register applies to plasterers; asbestos in textured ceilings and lead paint are the real hazards. The checks, the questions and the finish.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a plasterer in five steps

  1. Skim or replaster?Sound walls get a skim; blown or damaged plaster comes off.
  2. Test old textured ceilingsBefore anyone scrapes or sands them.
  3. Agree protectionFloors, furniture and sockets covered.
  4. Allow drying timeNew plaster needs days to dry before painting.
  5. Check the finish in raking lightFlat, smooth, no trowel marks.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No licence or register applies to plasterers anywhere in the UK, and the plastering itself needs no building regulations approval when it is a repair or a skim.

Ask whether the plastering needs building regulations approval, and who is applying for it. gov.uk →

Textured coatings and asbestos

HSE treats drilling a textured decorative coating or removing a small area as non-licensed asbestos work, and large-scale steam or gel removal as notifiable non-licensed work under the Control of Asbestos Regulations; old textured ceilings should be tested before the plastering scrapes them.

Before the plastering disturbs an old textured ceiling, ask whether it has been tested for asbestos. hse.gov.uk →

Lead in old paint

HSE says leaded paint can sit under newer layers in older homes, and advises against dry sanding or burning it off; wet methods, chemical strippers or extraction are the safer routes, which matters if the plastering disturbs old paintwork.

For a home painted before the 1980s, ask how the plastering will deal with possible lead paint. hse.gov.uk →

Insurance and trader status

Check the insurance behind the plastering: public liability, with the insurer named. The trader's legal duties come from the Consumer Rights Act 2015; if you sign up for the plastering away from the trader's premises or online, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 normally allow 14 days to change your mind, though early-start work is paid for and bespoke goods cannot be returned under regulation 28.

Request the current insurance schedule before the plastering, and look at the profile badges for trader status and ID.

VAT

Expect 20% VAT, the standard rate, on plastering: a business above the £90,000 registration threshold is required to charge it and to show it separately from the labour and materials.

Ask for the VAT number, and look for VAT as its own line on the plastering quote per room. gov.uk →

“Skim or full replaster for the plastering?”

A good answer: An answer after tapping the walls; hollow, blown plaster needs to come off.

“Has the ceiling's textured coating been tested?”

A good answer: For an older ceiling, a test before scraping, as HSE's asbestos guidance expects.

“How will you protect the room?”

A good answer: Floors and furniture covered, sockets and switches protected.

“How long before I can paint?”

A good answer: A drying time, and a mist coat recommended for new plaster.

“Will the plasterer fix cracks and beads?”

A good answer: Corner beads and crack repairs included where needed.

“Who clears the waste?”

A good answer: Included, with the room left broom-clean.

Getting the quote right

  • Walls and ceilings by room, skim or replaster
  • Beads, boarding and repairs included
  • Protection and clearing up
  • Testing of textured coatings if needed
  • Who actually attends — the plasterer and any labourer, employed or subcontracted — and the business's VAT number, with VAT at 20% shown as its own line

Walk away if

  • Scrapes an old textured ceiling without a test
  • Dry-sands old paintwork
  • Skims over blown plaster
  • No protection for floors
  • Rushes painting before the plaster dries
LOW
£200
TYPICAL
£400
HIGH
£700

What a plasterer costs: £200–£700 per room

Plasterers price per room or per job; a skim over sound walls is cheapest, and a full replaster, ceilings or large rooms cost more. Plasterer price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Plasterers near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. SurveyWalls tapped; textured coatings and old paint assessed.
  2. ProtectRoom covered, sockets and switches masked.
  3. PrepareLoose plaster removed, beads fitted, boards fixed.
  4. PlasterCoats applied and trowelled to a finish.
  5. ClearWaste removed, room cleaned, drying advice given.

Skim
A thin finishing coat over sound plaster.
Blown plaster
Plaster that has come away from the wall and sounds hollow.
Bonding coat
An undercoat for uneven backgrounds.
Corner bead
A metal or plastic strip that forms a sharp corner.
Mist coat
A thinned first coat of paint on new plaster.
Textured coating
A decorative ceiling finish that may contain asbestos in older homes.

AFTER

When the job is done

Let it dryDays before painting, longer in cold weather.
Check in raking lightShine a torch along the wall: flat, smooth, no ridges.
Mist coat firstA thinned first coat helps paint stick to new plaster.
Review the jobOnly booked jobs can be reviewed on Locufy, so yours carries weight; if the plastering falls short, use the make-it-right step first and the provider is asked to fix it before the review is published.

STEP 1Complain to the plasterer firstEmail or message so there is a record, setting out the defect in the plastering and what you expect. A trader owes reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015; the remedies it sets are a second attempt, then a price reduction.
STEP 2Use Locufy's make-it-right stepRate the plastering under four stars and you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then the review goes up.
STEP 3Unapproved or dangerous workIf the plastering needed approval and did not get it, the council deals with it: building control in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or the building standards service in Scotland, where the owner answers for a missing warrant. For a dispute about the plastering with the trader, Trading Standards is reached through the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, or Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Money still in disputeIf the plastering is still not settled, you can claim without a solicitor: the small claims track takes claims up to £10,000 in England and Wales, simple procedure up to £5,000 in Scotland, and the small claims court up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring a plasterer: questions people ask

No licence or register applies anywhere in the UK.

Skimming over leaves it in place; scraping or sanding it should wait for a test, because older textured coatings can contain asbestos.

£200–£700 a room, typically around £400. A skim in a small room is cheapest; a full replaster or ceilings and walls together cost more. There is a line-by-line breakdown in the Plasterer price guide, and the postcode box above brings up plasterers in your area.

Days, depending on thickness, heat and ventilation.

HSE says leaded paint can sit under newer layers in older homes; it should not be dry-sanded or burned off.

Fine shrinkage cracks can appear as plaster dries; larger ones are worth asking the plasterer about.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in trades & construction

How to hire: Dry LiningHow to hire: RenderingHow to hire: BuilderHow to hire: Carpenter & JoinerHow to hire: TilerHow to hire: Damp ProofingHow to hire: Water Damage RestorationHow to hire: Kitchen FitterAll 701 hiring guides →

Plasterers near you

Plasterers in LondonPlasterers in ManchesterPlasterers in BirminghamPlasterers in GlasgowPlasterers in BelfastAll plasterers on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. HSE — deciding if asbestos work must be done by a licensed contractor
  2. HSE — asbestos: frequently asked questions
  3. HSE — construction hazardous substances: lead
  4. gov.uk — building regulations: when you do not need approval
  5. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  6. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 54 — what you can ask for when a service falls short
  7. Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 30 — the 14-day cancellation period
  8. Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 28 — contracts the cancellation right does not cover
  9. Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 36 — services started within the cancellation period
  10. Civil Procedure Rules Part 26 — the small claims track limit (England and Wales)
  11. Scottish Courts and Tribunals — making a claim under simple procedure
  12. nidirect — the small claims process (Northern Ireland)
  13. Buildings and construction (VAT Notice 708) — 2.1 Construction services: work to an existing building is normally standard-rated
  14. GOV.UK — VAT rates
  15. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register